Trip mechanism for automobile antitheft signal devices



Aug. 2'7, 1935, w. H. SHUMAKER TRIP MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILE ANTITHEFT SIGNAL DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1934 W WWW Ma w Aug. 27, W35. w. H. SHUMAKER TRIP MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILE ANTITHEFT SIGNAL DEVICES Filed Jan. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Patented Aug. 27, 1935 NITED STA AUTOMOBILE AN'rI- THEFT SIGNAL'DEVICES Williamj H Shuinaker; Detroit, Mich. Application January 13, 1934, Serial No. 706,572

i In the few years of late it is obviously a. de-

cided fact that automobile theftand particularly the use of the automobile as. a'mean'sfor kidnaping, has attained an alarming proportion.

6 For this reason this invention was devised as an effective "means to discourage suchcriminal practice and likewise to cause the culprits to be readily 'apprehendedby law enforcing members at the very outstart of the contemplated crime.

This 'isaccomplished by the provision of a metal case that is'secured to v the rear of the license plate and which isju'nnoticed when not in use. When the kidnaper directs the motoristto drive him to some secluded "location, the motorist quickly depresses a pedal with his foot, and simultaneously'with this operation a sign rises from the metal case inwhich it is inclosed, bearing the inscription,Help-or a similar signal of distress. 1 The signal remains permanently visible,which will attract many persons andin this manner assistance would be available until an officer maybe notified.

The particular advantage of the invention is not only to protectthe occupants of the automobile, but to have the culprits promptly apprehended bylaw and due justice meted out to them. A similar arrangement is provided whereby the automobile may be protected from theft by having the sign detachably connected to the clutch, so that when the car is started the forward motion' of the clutch may cause the sign toinstantly appear, bearing the inscription, Stolen or an appropriate word for the'occasion. 1

It will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description that the invention possesses further advantages, illustrated throughout the drawings; and more specifically pointed out in the appended claim. With reference to the'drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a partial View of an automobile body, and showing the invention normally secured thereto.

Figure 2 is a partial rear view of an automobile showing the device in operation.

Figure 3 is an=enlarged assembly of'the trip mechanism of the device; the arrows therein in- 'dicate the direction ofthe motion of said mechanism. Y i I Figure 4 is a partial' side elevation and sectionalassembly of the trip mechanism. Figure 5 is a sectional View takensubstantially upon lined- 50i Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an elevation of thecase partly ing same normally secured to of the'automobile.

and normallyinoperative. l

' Figur'e'l3 is a similarview to Figure -12, show ing the signal plate having'been discharged to a dropped position. I

'1 Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken mobile clutch. r The. invention comprises side's .l and I A that are arranged in parallel re- "lation'as indicated. Disposedfintermediate said view to Figure- 6, showing the device in operation. i

Figure 8'is a sectional plan View plate, as indicated FigurelO is a similar view to Figure 9, showing asindicated in Figure 7.

taken sub stantially: upon line 8-8 of Figure '7- Figure '9-'is. an enlarged section of'the'signal 1 plate releasingmechanism, showing the same in the act of holding the signal in Figure 6.

E's PATENT Figure 11 is an end elevation of the case show- V the license'plate Figure '12 is a reduced view of the invention in a modified form without the use of ai'spri'ng substantially upon line I l-l4. ofFigure 13; Figure 15 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention asit would be applied to an autoa case having metal sides and'at the respective ends thereof are vertically arranged separator bars 2 that are secured to sides I and IA by screws 3, 'also longitudinalily arranged separator bar 4 'intermediate'said .sides and at the bottom of the case. I

Metal signal plate 5 is provided and having the top edge thereof deflected at right'ahgles thereto asat 6; and it is notedthat said plate is of somewhat smaller proportions thansides I and' IA of the case so that same may'freely' enter and depart from the case. A pair 'of'guide screws 1 are provided which permit the outwardiand inward action of signal plate 5' byvirtue of .a similar. number of elongated and vertically arranged slots 8 within said plate and respectively receiving said screws as indicated. r J p: Vertically arranged pocket 9 is formed inside IA so as to accommodate spring l0. One-.endwof spring I0 is secured to the upper end ofpocket 9 as at I I, and the opposite end thereof issecured to the lower edge of signal plate 5 as at I2'.

An important feature of the device is the signal plate releasing mechanism, which consists. of

-metal housing l3 having flange M which is adapt- .ed to be welded or otherwise suitablyse'curedi to of the device is secured to license plate A by means of screws 20, apertures 2| in said case being provided for receiving said screws.

Socket 22 is provided and secured to' hous'ing l3 where shown and is adapted to receive one-end of tube 23, and said tube being for the purpose of accommodating wire 24.

With reference to Figure 3 the trip mechanism of the device is clearly shown and which comxp'nises :pedal'12z5 with :elonga'ted ishank :26 formed thereon. Plate 21 is secured to floor :board 33 "of theautomobile -by:screws '28, and itiisz-noted that said plate has opening 29 of the shapetas shown through .iWhlCh passes shank .26. The lower end of shank 2B is formed asat 6.0 and :is adapted ito lengage yoke end $31 of bell crank lever :32rand is -c'onne'cted theretoby pin :33. 'Bell 'crankileverifl iis ipivotallyimounted upon bracket 34 by means (of pin 35, and said bracket is connected to' floor iboardiBbysscrews-fifi. ifiloilrs'pringiil is interposed .lbetween pedal 25 :andxplate 2:! as shownz The lower end of bell crankleverxfl is squared as at '58 :and is iproyided iwith aithreaded aperture adapted to ireceive l'screw 1-39 with :an aperture at right angles to said screw for passage :ofwire 24. zfiaidisor'ew is for .the purpose of lockingthezend iofsaid wire awith hell crank .lever. 32.

The complete details of aconstructionof ith'eima- 'jor :stnucture lot :the invention having been .set Sthe operation thereof immediately follows: Pedal 25 is preferably locatednear fthe-driverfs .zseat iin'ithe frontaportion of the automobile, and is readily accessible to the driver who may operate :sameWithout being noticed by another occupant -otf rthercar. By depressing pedal 25 with the Toot, with reference to Figure 3 it is understood that ishanksifiwill move theupper portion of bellcrank -le.veri32 'inthe direction of arrow and said lever rbeing permanently pivoted to stationary bracket the lower -;end 38 of said lever will. move in the Fdinection wot arrow 50, simultaneously drawing wire. in the direction of arrow E, and as said mireiis carried through tube 23 to the rear of the car and with reference to Figures 9 and 10 is :secured toilever 115 where shown, the wire moves iihisiendaof the lever thereby simultaneously dislengaging lug :I' I' thereon from aperture 19 in sigznaliplate 5., and by virtue of spring l0 said plate is .instantlyreleased from the case as clearly shown in Figures-7 and 10. As pedal 25 is released it is understood that plate 5 will remain inthe exposed position and lever will automatireturn to the position with lug I 1. adjacent lower portion of plate 5 by reason of spring 18, and it is further understood that spring 31 :wiiil return pedal 25 to normal position upon the release of said pedal.

Bin-order to set the device to a normally inoperative position, the operation consists simply of manually lowering plate 5 into the case whence Iaperture 13 :therein will engage lug ll of lever 15, and the device is again ready'for operation.

The object of the modified form of the inven- .tion indicatedin' Figures 12and .13 is to disclose "device for the market.

the arrangement whereby a bracket secured to the fender is used for supporting the license plate .from the top portion thereof, which is frequently used in automobile construction. In this condition said plate could not rise in view of the bracket, consequently it must descend so as to operate. In this arrangement the case and signal plate are identical with that of the major form with .the exception of the .spring Ill andv pocket therefor Bfiboth :o'f which are eliminated, however the signal plate releasing mechanism as .shown in Figures 9 and 10 is retained in its original form with aperture l9 Within plate 5 for this purpose. In this arrangement when pedal 25 is depressed lever l5 releases plate 5 and said plate .dropstothe position as shown in Figure 13 by reason of gravity. Plate 5 is restored to an in- :operzaitive position by manually elevating same into the .case where it likewise engages lugs I! of lever l5 and is retained thereby.

' 'iIhe "invention maybe as :advantageou's'ly ap- 'zplied for :purpose of protecting the automobile from theft, :and by :referring to Figure 15 it will be observed that in this arrangement pedal :25

and the trip mechanism coordinated with the same :are eliminated and the end portion of the operated in view -of wire 24 being drawn in the direction of theclutch 'or arrow G :in this view.

The entire signal releasing mechanism as :shown :in Figures :9 and 1 0 will remain identical with the mechanism used :in the preferred form of the device and operates in the same manner. For this method it would be preferable to have an inscription nipon signal plate 5 bear the word,

Stolen or of course-any appropriate word for the purpose. It is further understood that-either system of signal operation shown in Figures 6 and 7 or inFigures l2 and 13, may besuccessfully used, In Figure 15 it :is seen that the customary toe'board H and dash J are visible.

A further important advantage of the invention is that while the primary intention thereof is for the purpose of protecting the occupants of the automobile from the terrible act of the kid- .napper and hold-up men, and likewise to protect the automobile from theft, the identical arrangement may be as advantageously used for installation in stores, or in any similar places requiring the protection eirected by the use of this device.

It may be further added that an important advantage is attained in view of the extreme simplicity in construction and operation of the invention and being likewise very substantial, it should endure for an indefinite period, and also may be manufactured and sold at a price consistent with. the keeping of the lowest possible cost to the consumer.

is understood that the same is susceptible to certain minor changesin the detailsof construction, in the event that conditions warrant changes during any probable further development of the Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In an automobile anti-theft device, a case having separated sides with the ends and bottom thereof inclosed and having an open top, a signal plate slidably disposed within said case, said plate having an aperture therein, a signal plate releasing mechanism and a housing therefor secured to the aforesaid case, said mechanism comprising 10 a lever pivotally mounted at onev end in said 

